Cooksongold | Royal Jewelry Blog

In order to 3D print, We offer several amazing designs in many different categories for you to readily print! Did you know you can also download one of these files from our design library and add your own extra touches? In this blog we will show you a step by step example of exactly how you can achieve this! Start by going to the Cooksongold website of course and select the ‘3D Printing’ tab or simply click here. This will take you to our 3D printing homepage, and then select the design library. First step: Browsing the designs we offer in our design library: Cooksongold3D: Design Library We chose the 12 Sided Dice and then clicked ‘Download’ on the left side. This will download the design as an STL file. Create an account with TinkerCAD which is run by AUTODESK. This software is free and accessible from your browser. TinkerCAD has a great tutorial system for new users to the software. Here select ‘Create new design’: This will bring up the workspace for you to edit your fi...

We challenged the students of the British Academy of Jewellery to produce a creative CAD design motivated by a piece of architecture they felt inspired by and then selected the best designs to be 3D printed in silver. We used the challenge to test their creativity and see what amazing creations the students could come up with, designing with Cooksongold is limitless and showcasing these incredible pieces portrays just what you can do! Showcasing the winning design by Lucy Driver: ‘The skyline ring’ The Skyline Ring Her ring was inspired by the modern city skyline, created by the architectural forms she passes everyday in London.  Featuring this as a silhouette form running around the band of the ring.  The front section of the piece features arcs and lines inspired by the iconic bridges of the city. Alongside where she grew up in Newcastle. A touching design showcasing both personal history and beautiful architecture. ‘Personally, crossing the Tyne Bridge meant the...

Now you’ve learnt what resin is, the different types and what it can do in part 1 of our resin guide , it’s time to learn the essential tools needed when working with resin. Whilst working with resin doesn’t require masses of expensive tools, you will need some specific equipment. Most items are available at a relatively small cost but others are simply household items which are easy to get hold of. Miniature Mixing Cups, Pack of 10 Mixing cups are essential when working with resin and these mini pots are ideal for mixing up small amounts.  Each colour needs to be mixed separately and containers need to be kept scrupulously clean. Aqueous Cleaner 500ml Use Aqueous cleaner to wipe up uncured resin and keep tools spotless. Wooden Mixing Sticks, Pack of 100 Mixing sticks are another ‘must have’ item when working with resin, and you will find you get through a lot! Stock up with this pack of 100 which will see you through many projects. Digital Table Top Sca...

Resin is an extremely versatile and exciting material which can be used without the need for expensive tools and equipment. In this first part of our guide to resin, we allow you to discover exactly what is resin, as well as the different types available. What is Resin? In its basic form, resin is a clear and viscous substance, which can be cured using a hardener to form a solid object or surface. It can be used for decoration (coating and layering) but also to cast complete pieces using a mould. Most resins consist of a base material and a catalyst (hardener), which must be added using a specific ratio, for example 2:1 or 1:1, to allow the hardening process to work successfully. (N.B. There is no one answer on how to use resin. Instructions vary across different products and manufacturers so instructions must be followed to the letter – never guess!) Resin is usually fully cured after 24 hours (although this varies from product to product) and sets to a lovely, clear...

Achieving a beautiful finish is a crucial stage of jewellery production and can really make or break a piece. Polishing can be extremely daunting at first as there are many stages involved in achieving a successful shine so to take some of the pain out of polishing, we have put together some   top tips  to help you on your way to a flawless finish.  Pumice Powder Pumice Powder is an abrasive powder that can be used wet, with a brush or as a paste to clean up metal, pre and post soldering. It creates a lovely white, matt and grease-free finish which allows you to clearly see any marks or scratches which will subsequently need to be removed. It’s ideal as the first stage after completing a piece, as it allows you to see which stage you have reached. Please note to make sure any pumice residue is completely washed away before moving onto the next stage. Pumice Powder 1kg Don’t skimp on the preparation It is impossible to achieve a good polish without first removing the scr...

There are many ways to add texture to your jewellery – burrs, files and waxes are examples of techniques that add deep and pronounced texture to once plain surfaces. Here we are going to show you a few quick and easy ways to add texture using a range of polishing tools, including our favourite the Garryflex. Step 1: To show examples of a few different textures we have cut out triangles to make into mix and match studs. Mark out the size of your triangles onto the metal using a scribe. Cut out using your piercing saw , sawing on the outside of the line to leave room for filing or sanding later. Also, remember to keep that blade lubricated! We recommend having a block of wax screwed to your bench, easy to hand, to ensure your blade remains lubricated. Sanding You need to give yourself a good clean tidy base to work with, texture will not hide any marks or scratches and can highlight them even more. If you cut corners you will have to go back and fix it ...

Cooksongold presents the unity ring… The unity ring tests the bounds of creativity and was the perfect show piece to bring our idea to life using our 3D printing service. With intricate hand details and the delicate nature of the piece holding together a beautiful gemstone this was a great creation from start to finish for a perfect 3D print. The inspiration for the unity ring: The ring was inspired by the idea of cohesiveness and individuals being able to both work and come together as a unit. We wanted to represent harmony between people and came up with the idea of two hands co-operating to hold ‘something’ together. This is shown with the topaz gemstone being held and the ring thus being called the ‘unity’ ring. The Material we decided to use: We wanted a contemporary looking classic piece and envisioned this piece in silver when designing. Silver is a beautiful timeless precious metal that goes well with almost anything. It fit perfectly with the design to be a ring for all....